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The Air Force Institute of Technology Graduate School of Engineering and Management at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base hosted a commencement ceremony at the National Museum of the United States Air Force March 23.&nbsp Degrees awarded at the ceremony included 254 master's (two students earned dual degrees) and two doctor of philosophy degrees.&nbsp In addition, three master's and 24 doctoral graduates returned to walk in the ceremony.

This graduating class included three Air Force non-commissioned officers, nine U.S. Army, two Marine Corps and 15 civilian students.&nbsp In addition, one international officer from Argentina received a degree.&nbsp More than 20 different research areas were represented.

During his speech, Dr. Todd Stewart, AFIT's director and chancellor, highlighted a third generation AFIT graduate - Capt Aaron Vincent, who earned a master's degree in logistics & supply chain management and was a Distinguished Graduate.&nbsp His father, Roger Vincent, a retired Air Force colonel, earned a master's degree in electrical engineering in 1997.&nbsp His grandfather, Oakley Vincent, a retired Air Force lieutenant colonel, earned both a bachelor's and master's degree in electrical engineering in 1965. " What a great family tradition of service to our Air Force and our country," Stewart said.&nbsp

In addition, Stewart paid special tribute to some very special guests: More than 20 parents and grandparents who were veterans of the Korean, Vietnam and Gulf Wars were in attendance.&nbsp

The commencement speaker was Gen. James Holmes, commander of Air Combat Command.&nbsp

" The tie between the military aviation technology and the engineers and scientists that provide it has many layers.&nbsp All ACC Airmen depend on you and the work that you will do...to give them an edge in combat, vital logistics support, and for their very lives," Holmes said.

" The many late nights spent studying and the time spent catching up on homework or developing your thesis...will enable each and every one of you to put your expertise to work and make a huge impact on our Air Force," he said.&nbsp " I am really excited to think about what each of you will bring to the table after you leave here today.

" In my humble opinion, AFIT offers the best professional military education the Air Force has to offer.&nbsp A long tradition, continuously updated, means we provide unique graduates that we can't get from any other university anywhere else," Holmes said.

In closing, Holmes charged the graduates " to continue in their duties, remember the sacrifices of those that came before us and the Airmen that we serve with today.&nbsp May we all remember our obligations to the men and women that we serve with."

During a ceremony earlier in the day at AFIT, some students were presented awards for their exemplary performance during their graduate studies.&nbsp Those presented awards included:

Maj. Francis Hallada from the Department of Engineering Physics was presented the Chancellor's Award for demonstrating the most exceptional individual master's thesis research.

First Lt. Zachary Hoeffner from the Engineering Physics Department received the Mervin E. Gross Award for his exceptional academic achievement and high qualities of character, initiative, and leadership. The award is named in honor of Brig. Gen. Mervin E. Gross, first commandant of the Institute.

Capt. Anthony Rose from the Computer and Electrical Engineering Department received the Louis F. Polk Award.&nbsp The winner of this award exhibited the highest standards of academic and professional accomplishment and through their research made a significant contribution toward strengthening the nation's industrial defense base.

MAJ&nbsp Ronald Lenker, U.S. Army&nbsp from the&nbsp Department of Engineering Physics received the Edwin E. Aldrin Sr. Award, presented for displaying the most exceptional leadership characteristics while in the graduate program.&nbsp

Tech. Sgt. Nathan Carlson from the Department of Operational Sciences received the Secretary James G. Roche Award for demonstrating exceptional academic achievement through a combination of grade point average and outstanding research, as well as high qualities of character, initiative, leadership and service.

Since AFIT's establishment in November of 1919, the institute has counted among its alumni some of the most accomplished engineers and scientists known worldwide, both past and present. This list includes Air Force pioneers Gen. George Kenney, Gen. Jimmy Doolittle, Gen. Bernard Schriever, Gen. Benjamin Chidlaw, Astronauts Virgil&nbsp " Gus" Grissom,&nbsp Gordon Cooper, and Guion Bluford, to name a few.

AFIT first granted accredited resident degrees in 1955 and since then more than 18,760 master's and 795 doctoral degrees have been awarded.&nbsp

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